Wins Give City Democrats ‘Prominent Voice’ At Capitol
Bysiewicz, Lesser Headline Middletown’s State Delegation
Middletown Democrats made a huge grab in political influence in Tuesday's election by picking up the lieutenant governor's post and electing a city resident to the state Senate for the first time in a generation.
Lt. Gov.-elect Susan Bysiewicz, a longtime Middletown politician, served for years as the secretary of the state and returns to elected office for the first time since 2011.
Middletown voters chose Ned Lamont and Bysiewicz over Republicans Bob Stefanowski and Joe Markley10,388 to 6,830, according to unofficial results available early Wednesday morning.
State Sen.-elect Matt Lesser has been one of the city's two state representatives for 10 years, and moves to the upper chamber as part of a Democratic surge that breaks the 18-18 tie of the last two years.
Democrats safely kept control of Middletown's two state House seats. Influential state Rep. Joe Serra easily secured a 14th consecutive term in the 33rd House District, and Quentin “Q” Phipps was elected to the 100th House District. Phipps becomes the first black city resident elected to higher office.
The city's gains are part of an overall win for Democrats across Connecticut, as voters went to the polls in droves. Participation was higher than in the 2014 and 2010 elections.
In Middletown, turnout was nearly 70 percent. Democratic voters there also helped Meriden's Mary Abrams oust Republican incumbent Sen. Len Suzio, also of Meriden.
“I'm very, very proud to be from Middletown,” Bysiewicz said. “Ned and I are really looking forward to working with Joe Serra and Q Phipps and with Mary Abrams and Matt Lesser. Both of them followed up big primary wins with strong election wins.”
She said the progressive ideals each of the candidates ran on — paid family leave, gender pay equity, a $15 minimum wage — work well with the priorities of her campaign with Lamont.
“Everyone in the state knows we have a lot of work to do,” Bysiewicz said. “It fits well with the platform Ned and I ran on, which is making our economy one that works for everyone. Middletown will have a very prominent voice at the Capitol.”
Lesser said having an influential city delegation is a point of pride but also a task to be taken seriously.
“There's a lot of work we have to do in the next budget to protect the communities,” he said. “It really means the onus is on us to govern effectively and to make some tough decisions. If we screw it up, we'll be held accountable.”
The last time a Middletown resident served in the state Senate was nearly 50 years ago, when Jack Pickett was elected and served from 1958 to 1970 in the 33rd Senate District. At the time, that district was centered around Middletown and included surrounding towns.
Several redistricting rounds have resulted in the city being split between the Meriden-heavy 13th Senate District and the five-town 9th Senate District, which includes all or parts of Wethersfield, Newington, Rocky Hill, Cromwell and Middletown.
Democrats said after Tuesday's results that Middletown was represented by a strong progressive group that will prioritize a $15 minimum wage, affordable health care and equitable school funding.
“Last night was an incredibly exciting night for Middletown,” said Bobbye Knoll Peterson, vice chairwoman of the Democratic town committee. “It's huge to have a woman from Middletown elected lieutenant governor, to have a senator elected from Middletown and to have our two state reps. Middletown turned out for Democrats.”
She said the group as candidates excited a lot of people locally.
“Our DTC came out and did the work and energized voters,” Peterson said. “We had candidates who made it easy to want to work for them and who were willing to do the work. It was a huge win for Middletown.”
The citywide results show very large margins of victory for the Democrats, who far outnumber registered Republicans.
Lesser beat Rocky Hill Republican Ed Charamut by a 2-to-1 margin in Middletown. Serra won 5,356 to 3,270 over Republican Linda Szynkowicz. Phipps beat Middletown police officer and Republican Anthony “Tony” Gennaro in a 5,476 to 3,534 vote.
Serra said the support for Democrats is seen from election to election, but having more Middletown residents than usual is a statement.
“I think Middletown is going to have a lot to say,” Serra said.
It was Phipps' first time running for a state office, but he is no newcomer to local politics. He served on the planning and zoning commission and has been the city treasurer since 2011.
Bysiewicz had a brief tussle with the town committee in the lead-up to the primary in August. Some town committee members wanted to endorse her opponent, Eva Bermudez Zimmerman, so the committee decided not to make any endorsement in the race rather than force its members to take sides for or against the hometown candidate.
“The minute it was clear Susan won [the primary] she was our candidate,” Peterson said. “Middletown is proud of Susan Bysiewicz and we are incredibly proud to have her represent us.”